Your opinion please…
I know I haven’t mentioned the Beginner DVD this week, mostly because I’ve been so busy preparing for the lecture and workshop in South Carolina.
There also hasn’t been a lot to say because I’ve been waiting for the sample copies of the DVD to arrive.
I’ve learned from experience that whenever things get to the manufacturing process, you really have to order a sample to see how the video works and if it looks good. Even if it takes an extra week, it’s worth it.
So I just got my sample copy of Free Motion Quilting Basics Disc 1 and Disc 2. The content is wonderful, the sound and video came out terrific.
Here’s a clip on Speed Control from Disc 1:
But there is a slight problem with the cover.
I was expecting the cover to come out white with black thread. Instead it’s ended up being this gray color with black thread.
My immediate reaction was to redo the whole thing – take another 2 days to upload the whole project again with new covers, then wait another week to get more samples and second week to launch.
But the DVDs play great. The sound is the best of all of my dvds, the video is clear, and I know the information is really going to help everyone with free motion quilting.
So I need your opinion…should I release it now as is and maybe change the covers later or wait and fiddle with it until it looks perfect?
Let me know what you think! Everyone is giving me a different opinion, but I really want to hear from you!
Let’s go quilt,
Leah Day
If you think you will regret not doing everything to perfection, then I would take the extra time to have the cover in the right colours. After all, the cover makes a kind of statement and also should make the customer curious for the content of the DVD. But I as the customer do not know what you originally had planned…..
Difficult decision, good luck and greetings from Germany
I would say do it the way that makes you proud of what you have produced. It sound to me like that would be fixing the colors.
At the end of a long project it is tempting to say "Good enough" but sometimes you look back and say "I wish I had.." For a couple days wait it may be worht doing it perfect.
Leah
Release it now! The contents are fabulous and your audience is definitely ready for this.
I'm the queen of do over, being anal, doing it until you get it right. If I could see a difference in the two covers, I would say definitely wait and do it right. I cannot tell a difference…Disc 2 looks better to me, but it is so marginal that it's not worth mentioning. Release it now! Good luck with whatever you decide!
I don't think the gray is bad, It is more peaceful to the eye, than stark white.
If you don't mind it, then go for it. I think it is amazing the way it is.
~a
Go with it … I watch the video … GREAT job.
Leave it as it is. The content inside is the important part. I'm really looking forward to it.
I think the cover looks good and as long as you are happy with it then release it now. If you really don't like the cover photo then wait. The quilting diary is a great idea. I am new to the actual quilting part and plan to practice free motion so I will try and keep a diary.
Release it now! The quality of the DVD is the most important and it is obviously great. I say RELEASE IT NOW! The cover is important but the information inside is the MOST important!
I am sure the content is great, but we eat with our eyes as well as our digestive systems. While the patterns on the cover are lovely examples of the content, the titles and author kind of blend into the background. Maybe at DVD size this is not so. Also how happy are you with that cover? Would the extra time to change things be that big? Would you really need to re-upload everything just to chan the covers? (I would have thought that in this compter age that it would be a very simple thing to do…..)
Good luck and thank ou for your blog. Thre are a few of us in the north of Scotland following it.
What goes for quilting goes for the videos–"Finished is better than perfect!" If the cover color is the only problem, go ahead and release it. You can improve the cover on the 2nd edition-no point being "perfect" now-what will you have to look forward to?
You should do what is important to YOU, not to everyone else. You are probably obsessing about every little detail, but honestly, no one else will even know about something that didn't turn out "right" (unless you tell them)! Don't sweat the small things is my philosophy, then you'll have more energy to deal with the big things!
I thought it looked fine but I have to agree with the others who said if it bugs you, fix it. Those people waiting to order will wait an extra week and, if you are not going to be totally happy with it…change it! The clip is wonderful, by the way, and I am really enjoying your blog..thanks!
Can you find out why the color didn't turn out right…is it something on your end or theirs?? I wouldn't redo it unless you know where things went wrong and how to get the results you want. Only you can know if this will leave a cloud over the project for you. I think the gray is subtle and nicely unexpected. Do what will enable you to move on! We love it either way!
It is all about what is inside. Release it. Most of the time my CDs go into a holder and the box it came it gets recyled or put in a storage box for some unknown reason. Your first quilt was not perfect right? This is a tiny glitch in the process. You get better with each release just like you get better with each quilt. Don't you hate it when your own advice comes back to bite you?
I do graphis for CDs, DVDs etc. Althought your image is wonderful and represents the content well, your title disappears. You can do some quick edits with what you have and make it more legible. I'll e-mail you something so you can see what I mean.
So what if you've already told me it was black thread on white, what if you had said it was black thread on gray? Would I've been any wiser? Does it make a difference to me? No! The quilting is beautiful and that is what inspires me. No need to do over.
I'm with Crafty Maine Mom in saying "…do what makes you proud of what you have produced."
While the content is what matters most, if you're not comfortable with the package, work on it a bit longer…
If you are happy with releasing it now, then do it. If not, wait until you are happy so it doesn't play on your mind and you'll have no regrets.
It looks great. To be honest I'm drawn to color but the stitching looks great.
People who use the DVD will spend a second looking at the cover, then much MUCH longer with the content.
If you hadn't mentioned that the cover was supposed to be white, but looked grey, I wouldn't have noticed. It looks white enough to me and I don't think that anyone else EVER will complain about the cover color.
I think it's fine. Sounds and looks great. Go for it! Good job. Love your blog.
As mentioned, the title really is what is lacking. I'd have a sticker printed that is large enough to cover the old title with a bolder and colorful title on it. Place this sticker on the current covers to get it out now and redo for your next reprint. The title now does not in anyway share the WOW in your designs that the dvd will have. Love your work!
Is it going to bug you every time you look at it? Then I'd fix it. If you're ok with it, release it now.
The delay is so minimal; I would get it to what you envisioned so you are happy with it…what is a few more weeks before launch day? Since white is so hard to photograph properly and distinctly,might I suggest you go with a yellow/black or red/white color. The red especiall I think would attract attention on shelves and in catalogues if you ever go that route. Just as an asside, I envisioned you older…wow, you are young! Great experience you have for being so young too.
No, it doesn't matter! We just want info!
There is great Stitch definition. The Quilting looks great The cover looks great. Only you know it should be Black and white.
Don't sweat the small stuff. You blog is a great advirtisement to the great teaching that will be inside. Go for it girl!
Cheers
Lynne
I agree with Laura– the grey scale is not really a problem, but having the titles disappear on the covers definitely is. I'd fix the titles, and if it was me, I'd fix the covers to, or it would always bug me (even if no one else cares, and the vote says they don't.)
By the way, I watched some of your daily videos at home yesterday, and I love your speaking voice. The lighting works, too. Looking forward to the videos.
Do what your first gut reaction said to. If that is a redo then so be it – It will nag you if you don't All your fans will be happy when it "arrives " the way you want it ! Go Girl ,,,,,
I think the title diappears. If you are going to fix that, then you may as well make it perfect in your eyes. You won't be happy if you don't. If you had not told me it was to be black and white, I would have thought it was grey. This product represents you and your company. Put your best foot forward. This will be around for years and you will have to stand in front of guilds to sell it. You don't want to have to tell the story every time of how it isn't right.
You are happy with the inside… the outside must be to. Make it right. you won't regret it.
Actually, I hate white fabric! Like the other comments, this is a quilting video and that is exactly what my eye focused on…the beautiful quilting. This says to me…"This lady knows what she's doing…think I'll buy this video!"
I like the gray/black look, it's softer than a bright white.
My first impression was that it was hard to read the title and information in the stitching. You should do what you will be happiest with. Use the same criteria you would with one of your quilts. They are your product.
I think the cover looks fine. I would have thought that was the way it was meant to be. Each day you wait is one less day that you could be selling a DVD.
To be honest the only thing I would say is if you decide to redo it, completely redesign it and have a graphic designer help you. Black title on black pattern… not so readable. It also may let you down in terms of the fantastic content that is inside. I think you deserve a cover that has a bit more wow factor. If you don't want to go with colour printing I think you could still do something that lets the title speak a bit better. Perhaps someone who is a graphic designer will offer to help you here.
Be Happy with what you do – if you're not you'll regret it later. What's a few more days?
Leah, as always, what a joy you are to behold! However, those that do not know you, will judge your content by your cover…
We love you, we can wait!
The video looks great! I'm really impressed with the quality. Regarding the cover, you may be the only one who knows what it is "supposed" to look like, but you'll probably feel better if you make it exactly how you want it.
Release it now. Use up what you have completed. Work on what you really want and use it for the second edition. Do overs are costly-in these times settle for what you have-most of us understand.
It sounds like the quality of the cover is going to bother you more than holding off releasing it a week.
The clip itself is wonderful. Very natural and I can feel your enthusiasm for the subject. Great job!
Leah,
Your immediate reaction was God's way of saying "re-do or you won't be happpy with it". We can wait! God Bless, you are a good person.
Marie
What's on the DVD itself is the most important! The cover may not be perfect, but the design and stitching are clear–so go ahead and let the presses roll. You can always play with the color issues on the cover for a second release. Keep up the great work!!!
Leah – your sample panels – we wouldn't have known about the 'white' problem if you hadn't mentioned it – but I do agree with other comments regading the text over the sample panels – this needs to be changed, even if you put a black box with white text in the bottom corner – the video looks great – looking forward to ordering it for my birthday
The cover graphic is beautiful, but the text is hard to discern. I don't think increasing the contrast on the graphic (white instead of grey) would help that. And while I agree with everyone that the content is the important part, as a technical writing/marketing adviser, I know that people who do not know anything about you or your meticulous effort will purchase by looking at the cover. Make the contents evident (and yourself happier in the process).
I like the cover. you can see the quilting really well and I think that is what you want.
Happy sewing!
I just got my copy of FMQB in the mail and I wanted to comment on the new cover designs.
I had voted for just having them printed with the old designs, but I was totally wrong. These covers look MUCH better than the first versions. I particularly like the black-thread-on-white-fabric design on the second disk. It really stands out and it just looks awesome.
Making the two disks in opposite colors is such a fabulous idea, too. I haven't actually watched any of the material yet, I've just been admiring the outsides. 🙂
I'm new to the blog. My advice: Do it on the white as you had originally wanted.
Barbara
Release, let go! It's all good.